Human rights campaigners mark the three year opening of Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre as part of their ongoing fight to close down the facility. On 24 November 2021 the then Home Secretary, Priti Patel, opened Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre in Consett, changing its name from Hassockfield on the same day.
Since then the immigration prison has rarely been more than half full, with most women being detained for just a few weeks. The women locked inside often come from communities in the South of England and are moved overnight around the country, before ending up at Derwentside, hundreds of miles away from family and supporters.
For the last two years even the government appointed Independent Monitoring Board have questioned whether it should remain open given its remoteness, poor mobile and intermittent WiFi services and the lack of legal support in the area.
Dr Helen Groom from No To Hassockfield said:
“We know that a majority of women are released on bail from Derwentside, meaning they should not have been locked up in the first place. Imprisoning women in Derwentside is cruel, isolating and costly. It’s also completely unnecessary. No To Hassockfield say close the centre and spend the millions on supporting positive local industry instead.”
Campaigners continue to hold weekly protests at the site, with a faith vigil on the first Sunday of every month attracting people of many different faiths.
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